21 replies to this topic

[hfdpro]

Just picked up a GBA SP on Monday.
I've owned alot of systems including some handhelds. I now have among other things a Nomad, Lynx, Gameaxe, Playstation, N64, and Gamecube to name a few. I have never been so hooked on any one system until now with the GBA SP. I purchased with the system Virtua Tennis, Karnaaj Rally, Namco Museum, and V-Rally 3. All I can say is awesome!
I could not put the system down. I had to go to 6 stores to find the SP, and now I know why. Today I picked up Advance Wars, Wario Warez, Advance Baseball, and Konami Arcade Advance. Once I put Advance Wars in the SP, I didn't take it out. I can not believe the depth of these games. I probably end up buying a GBA for my daughters so I can have the SP all to myself.

[MacGurl]

I was finally able to find a store this weekend that had a few SP's. It looks to be a great handheld, but right now it's a little unfortable. The buttons seem awful close together and the gameplay in awkward (for me). I'm sure I'll get used to it though

[Miqorz]

I've allready bought and sold mine..

I'm not gone enough to have a need for it..

And any of the games I do want to play I can just borrow my friend's GBA and rent it..

[sdstuff64]

Yea I never reallyp lay mine anymore,it's all about the Neo Geo Pocket Color!

[Starcade]

Advance Wars is a modern masterpiece. the depth of the game shocks me also, when I beat it, I immediately started a new game, that game is an instant classic, if you don't have it, get it.

[SmileyDude]

AW is a great game -- AW2 looks like it's going to be another must have as well, even though the novelty has worn away a bit. AW is the kind of game that you hope to see more of for the GBA -- the SNES ports are good, but not very much fun if you've already beat them.

BTW -- another good game not on your list is Metroid Fusion -- when I got that game, I couldn't put it down until I beat it. Classic SNES action but with a new story -- excellent game

[ussexplorer]

Took Nitendo long enough to come out with a back light color game system. Guess the 4th time is the charm. I for now will just stick with the game gear. My younger brother however wants one.

Later,

Josh

[ApolloBoy]

I want an SP. Sure, I already have a GBA, but I'd still like it. Oh BTW, the GBA SP isn't back-lit, it's front-lit.

[cryptik76]

In my opinion, front-lighting definitely seems like the way to go. The GBA's screen is already high-clarity, and with the SP's front-lighting it looks just like a back-lit screen (especially in the dark) but without the blurring that back-lit systems (Atari Lynx and Game Gear, for instance) have. Plus, I believe it's easier on the battery power.

I will never get rid of my SP. Never ever.

[Video]

I never bought an SP. No need. Sure, I know about the backlight. But I already bought the afterburner kits for my GBA's about this time lasst year. So simply, the GBA SP has nothing new to offer. Other than a cool looking (albit flimsy) clamshell design. You may disagree with that, but wait a few months. Those hinges will start loosening up and/or breaking.

[SmileyDude]

Video said:

I never bought an SP.  No need.  Sure, I know about the backlight.  But I already bought the afterburner kits for my GBA's about this time lasst year.  So simply, the GBA SP has nothing new to offer.  Other than a cool looking (albit flimsy) clamshell design.  You may disagree with that, but wait a few months.  Those hinges will start loosening up and/or breaking.

Yeah, those hinges do look like a source of trouble -- mine have gotten looser, but still not that bad. I'll give it a few more months before getting worried. Besides, there is a 1-year warranty on them

Also, you forgot about the other feature of the SP -- rechargable battery. It certainly is nice to have a built in rechargable battery as opposed to the set that I was rotating through the old GBA. Plus, the battery seems to last a lot longer than those rechargables ever did.

My complaint about the GBA SP is horrible colors they choose. Sure, they look nice at first, but then they start dulling up and getting scratched. Horrible looking. I can't wait until the black SP comes out... I'll be replacing the Cobalt one that I have.

[Mendon]

Good and bad on the rechargable battery:

Good for the reasons you state, SmileyDude.

Bad because if you stupidly forget to bring the charger cord along you are screwed. We went on a 5 day trip recently and my youngest son brought along his GBA SP. But he forgot and left the cord at home and by Day 3 his GBA SP was dead with no way to charge the battery. If it would have been a GBA he would have just bought new batteries. We did stop at a EB and a Game Stop and both said they had never had a replacement cord in stock. Finally found one at a Best Buy but my son wouldn't fork out $20 for it. So for the rest of the trip he was forced to look at scenery and talk to Mom and Dad

Mendon

[SmileyDude]

Mendon said:

Bad because if you stupidly forget to bring the charger cord along you are screwed. We went on a 5 day trip recently and my youngest son brought along his GBA SP. But he forgot and left the cord at home and by Day 3 his GBA SP was dead with no way to charge the battery.

LOL -- I only laugh because I almost did this myself last weekend Luckily, I remembered to grab it before leaving the house. That would've sucked... especially since on the flight back, we sat on the runway for 2 hours (for a 2 hour flight). I'm sure that my battery would've died a horrible death if I hadn't charged it the night before.

Besides, I'm sure that as a parent, you were a little bit happy to have your son away from the GBA for a bit

BTW -- I know it doesn't help for that trip, or anytime you might be on a trip, but you can order spare parts directly from Nintendo. I picked up one of those handy headphone adaptors (what's up with that? First the omit the power adaptor connector on the original, and then the headphone jack on the followup ) from there along with a replacement screen and battery cover for the original GBA. Not too bad if you're in the states -- go to http://store.nintendo.com to check it out.

[Zloch]

I finally took the plunge and bought a GBA SP. My buddy showed me Wario Ware and I was hooked. So far, that's the only game I have. Any recommendations? I'm looking forward to Advance Wars, Castlevania and Golden Sun. What else do you all think is must have?

Sean

[Gabriel]

Namco Museum, Pac Man Collection, and Dragon Warrior 1 + 2 spend the most time in my GBA.

[cryptik76]

Zloch said:

I finally took the plunge and bought a GBA SP. My buddy showed me Wario Ware and I was hooked.  So far, that's the only game I have. Any recommendations? I'm looking forward to Advance Wars, Castlevania and Golden Sun. What else do you all think is must have?

Sean

You listed some great ones right there. Also Zelda: Link to the Past and Super Mario World are great if you didn't already play them to death on the SNES. And Metroid Fusion...

[chrisbid]

phantasy star collection and wario ware are also great

as are namco museum, and sega arcade collection, and konami arcade classics

[keerad]

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[MegaManFan]

I'm guessing flashcart.

[Zloch]

I just picked Konami Classics for $10 at TRU. Woohoo!! It rocks! I also picked up Wolfenstein 3D as it was also $10. They had a few more GBA games for cheap. I have to go back.

What's a flashcart?

Sean

[cryptik76]

Zloch said:

I just picked Konami Classics for $10 at TRU. Woohoo!! It rocks! I also picked up Wolfenstein 3D as it was also $10. They had a few more GBA games for cheap. I have to go back.

Wow, I've been looking for the Konami Collection. That and the Atari collection are the last arcade collections I need to buy for the GBA.

[GaryH917]

Check your local Toys R Us for Konami Arcade Hits for GBA. I saw it for $9.99 last week....